WOMEN IN CORRECTIONS: Elizabeth Gurney Fry

Born upon May 21,1780, Into a wealthy and prominent Quaker family in Norwich, England, Elizabeth Curney was the third of twelve children bom to John and Catherine Gurney As a young girl, Elizabeth was timid with delicate health and she periodically struggl with twists of depression. Her emotional health would affect her physical well being from one extremity to the other of her life (Craig, R.L & Rausch, D.A., 2003 p 102) Elizabeth's father, John was a auspicious banker and businessman, who was Involved In numerous charitable activities, and her mother, Catherine, was a member of the Barclay banking family. the couple her mother and father's families were members of the Society of Friends. This was a family already dedicated to the extremitys of the poor and weigh heavily uponed As a young girl of 12 years, Elizabeth was faced with the death of her mother, who died shortly after giving birth to her twelfth child. Catherine's death In November 1792 caused Elizabeth almost unbearable grief and pain. As an older child, Elizabeth was obligated to help In the upbringing of her brothers and sisters. Fortunately for Elizabeth, Catherine also Insisted that Elizabeth be well educated, thus giving Elizabeth the preparation necessary to do whatever she wanted with her life.

As Elizabeth was struggling with the meaning of her life, she had the opportunity to hear William Savery, a wealthy Quaker tanner and minister from Philadelphia, at a speaking engagement. As Savery spoke to the large gathering of several thousand, his message made a striking Impression upon the seventeen-year-old Elizabeth. Later, Elizabeth wrote In her journal, 'For to-day I have felt that there Is a God; I have been devotional, and my mind has been l away from the follies that It Is for the greatest part wrapt up in" (Memoir, 1847) For Elizabeth, this was the start of a religious conversion that would immerse her in Bible reading and the moral enterprise of the Quaker faith. She began visiting the sick and teaching poor children and established a Sunday seminary In her family home at Earlham Hall. She struggl to live a simple life in the midst of her family's prosperity. In the summer of 1799 Elizabeth met Joseph cook in the frying-pan who, like Elizabeth, came from a wealthy Quaker family. Joseph was somewhat unworldly in spite of being a tea merchant by dint of trade. At the age of 20 Elizabeth Cumey became Elizabeth Curney cook in boiling fat married Joseph Fry In a hordeed Quaker meetinghouse on Sunday, August 19 1800 In marrying Joseph cook in boiling fat a man who loved her dearly and have a title toed with the desire to please her, Elizabeth was able to live more entirely In her faith and to hunt her calling In life (Cralg, RL & Rausch, D.A., 2003 p 102)

Elizabeth's early aspirations for Christian service were thwarted by dint of the demands of being a housewife and other personal difficulties, for example, her husband's bankruptcy and the later disowning by their Quaker meeting (Samuel, B 2001) In a little above nine years of marriage, Elizabeth and Joseph had six children. Elizabeth also felt an obligation to not embarrass her father with glaring religious fanaticism and the omit of her motherly duties. When her father died In the fall of 1809 however, Elizabeth looked to feel that she was at last at liberty to live her life as she desired. She began speaking at meetings quite through the area and was ordained a minister In the Society of Friends. Although she would bear sum of two units more children by the extreme point of 1812, Elizabeth continued to place time Into her speaking engagements In surrounding towns and Into helping the poor.

In 1813 Stephen Grellet a friend of the cook in boiling fat family, visited Newgate Prison. Being profoundly percussioned at the conditions he observ he reported his observations to Elizabeth In the faith that she might use her Influence to Improve the situation. In January 1813 Elizabeth Gumey cook in boiling fat visited Newgate Prison in London for the first time. The nearest month, she visited twice more. She wrote In her Journal upon February 16,1813, 'Yesterday we were a certain number of hours at Newgate with the poor female criminals attending to their outward necessities; we had been twice previously. Before we went away, dear Anna Buxton entireed a few words In supplication, and actual unexpectedly to myself, I did also. I heard weeping, and I reflection they appeared much tendered; a actual solemn quiet was observed; It was a striking exhibition the poor people on their knee around us, In their deplorable condition" (Memoir, 1847 p 225)

Hundred of women were living In sum of two units long rooms where the fetor and the filth were overwhelming. more [i]or[/i] less women slept on the floor among the filth while others slept sum of two units high In hammocks. There was no bedding and clothes were at a premium. Elizabeth was overwhelmed at the sight of sum of two units women taking the clothes not on of a dead child to clothe another child. Following her visits to Newgate, Elizabeth arranged for the contribution of clothes for the women clean straw for bedding, and sewing materials to make clothing. This would also provide the women with the means to make currency enabling them to buy cheer and bedding. Elizabeth then put about campaigning for a institute for the Inmate's children who accompanied them to prison. She Instituted Bible reading to the prisoners, which was powerfully resisted by governmental authorities (Curtis K 2003) She then place about lecturing to all who would listen about the prison conditions, helping the poor, educating supply with nourishments and speaking against capital punishment.